Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used as flame retardants. Although many reports have indicated an association between exposure to PBDEs and developmental neurotoxicity, the relative contributions of different sources of dust PBDE congeners to the levels in various tissues of mother–baby pairs is not well understood. The aims of this study were thus to measure the quantitative relationship between the level of PBDEs in house dust and tissues of mother-neonate pairs, and to investigate the chemical sources of the PBDEs. Forty-one mother-neonate pairs were recruited and provided samples of maternal serum (n = 29), umbilical cord serum (n = 25), breast milk (n = 50), and house dust (n = 41), where PBDEs were determined with high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. While deca- (e.g., BDE 209, detected 100%), nona- (BDE 206/207, 95.1%), octa- (BDE 183, 100%), penta- (BDE 99/153, 100%, 98%) and tetra-BDEs (BDE 47, 100%) were detected abundantly in dust, penta- (BDE 99, 76%, 92%) and tetra-BDEs (BDE 47, 84%, 98%) were detected abundantly in umbilical cord serum and breast milk, respectively; tetra-BDEs (BDE 47, 86%) were detected more often relative to other congeners in maternal serum. Spearman’s pairwise comparison showed that the levels of BDE 47 (ρ = 0.52, p < 0.001) and −99 (ρ = 0.64, p < 0.01) in umbilical cord serum were associated with BDE 209 levels in dust; BDE 47 in maternal serum also showed correlation with BDE 99 in cord serum (ρ = 0.48, p < 0.01) but there was no significant correlation between maternal BDE 47 and dust BDE 209. On the other hand, a comparison of the distribution among congeners suggested probable associations of BDE 47 in maternal serum, breast milk, and umbilical cord serum with BDE 209 in dust; and of BDE 99 in maternal and umbilical cord serum, breast milk, and dust with BDE 209 in dust. Although further studies are needed, a radar chart-based distributional comparison among congeners supported associations between BDE 47 or −99 in human tissues and BDE 209 in dust.

Objective: To determine perinatal outcomes in uncomplicated term pregnancies with a borderline amniotic fluid index (AFI). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at term (>37 weeks). Borderline and normal AFI were defined as 5.1 ≤ AFI ≤ 8.0 cm and 8.1 ≤ AFI ≤ 24 cm, respectively. Adverse perinatal outcomes, cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate testing, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, a 5-min Apgar score of <7, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and whether the neonate was small for gestational age were compared between the borderline and normal AFI groups. Results: Borderline AFI was not significantly associated with cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate testing (p = 0.513), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (p = 0.641), admission to the NICU (p = 0.368), or a 5-min Apgar score of <7 (p = 1.00). However, the number of neonates who were small for gestational age (p = 0.021) and rates of induction of labor (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the borderline group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that borderline AFI was not associated with cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate testing (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–1.91, p = 0.52). Conclusion: In uncomplicated term pregnancies, a borderline AFI does not increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Im JH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Jan;36(5):e42. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e42

Objective: Tocolytic agents are used to inhibit uterine contraction in preterm. The authors undertook this study to determine whether using of tocolytic agents before delivery is associated with increase postpartum hemorrhage in preterm delivered women. Method: 296 singleton pregnancies delivered preterm from 24 + 1 to 37 + 0 weeks gestation were retrospectively reviewed. Hemoglobin (HB) and hematocrit (HCT) levels were checked before and after delivery to access postpartum blood loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether delivery within the half-lives of tocolytic agents was associated with decreased HB and HCT levels. Results: After adjusting for maternal age, parity, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, delivery method, and induction of labor, postpartum HB and HCT levels of those delivered within half-lives of tocolytic agents were found to be significantly diminished (HB: OR 3.306, 1.308–8.356 95% CI, p = 0.011; HCT: OR 2.692, 1.077–6.726 95% CI, p = 0.034). In addition, blood transfusion rates were elevated for deliveries made within the half-lives of tocolytic agents, (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Delivery within half-lives of tocolytic agents was found to be associated with low HB and HCT levels after delivery and higher blood transfusion rates in preterm delivered women.